Alexandeb winston



(No Model.)

A. WINSTON.

001m PLANTER. I No. 364,155. atented-May 31, 1887;

I V r I II 1/ names portant features.

' UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER WINSTON, OF FAYETTE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO D. M. FERGUSON, OF SAME PLACE.

ACORN-PLANTER.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,155, dated May 31, 1887.

Application filed December .2, 1886. Serial No. 120,454. (No model.)

of this-specification, Figure 1 represents a plan view of the invention; Fig. .2, a sectional side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a front elevation of the spacing-wheel and its immediate connections, and Figs. 4 and 5 a detail of the dropper-slide and its connections.

Similarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The nature of the invention is such as to planter without change of wheels, regardless of their size, and this constitutes one of its im- It is quite simple, as will be seen by referenceto the drawings, and may be described as follows:

Over one of the covering-wheels of the planter A is mounted a wheel, B, so that its face bears upon the face of the former, and is revolved by such contact as the planter moves forward. The diameter of the wheel B should be about two-thirds of the distance it is desired to separate the rows of corn, so that a complete revolution of the wheel covers the space between three rows. The wheel carries a cranked axle, G O, mounted in suitable standards, G G, attached to the frame of the planter. The bearing f of one of these standards should be slotted somewhatvertically, so as to admit of the wheel being raised and depressed in throwing in and outof gear. Connected loosely with the axle is a lever, F, pivoted to a suitable support, I, and adapted to engage with a notched standard at the other end, H. A short rack, d, on this standard, in connection with a lateral lug, i, on the lever, holds the same at any desired point, in or out of gear, and admits admit of its being applied to any ordinary cornof the wheel B being pressed against the other as tightly as may be requisite.

From the crank O a connecting-rod or pitman passes to the arm 6 of a rocker-shaft, E, having the arm 0 atits other extremity adapted to engage with the seedslide J. It will be seen that the rocker-shaft is in the nature of a bellcrank, the respective arms 6 and 6 being set at about a right angle to each other, so that a Vertical movement of the pitman D produces a horizontal-movement of the arm 6 and of the connective parts.

It is desirable to provide the arm e with a number of holes for the pin by which it is conneeted with the pitman D,so as-to secure a variable adjustmentof the stroke, and thus adapt it to the requirements ofdifferent machines. It will now be seen that the revolution of the covering-wheels will cause the spacing-wheel to revolve, and thus actuate the. dropping mechanism, making the planter automatic,

It will also be observed that the size of the covering-wheels will in no manner affect the operation of the machine, the separation of the rows of corn depending altogether upon the size of the spacing-wheel. This constitutes an im-v portant advantage, as the size of the coveringwheels varies not only in different machines butin any one machine, unless great care is exercised in keeping the face free from dirt.

To provide against the possibility of any variation in thediameter of the spacing-wheel, it

is supplied with a scraper, 0, attached to some convenient part of the frame and adapted to shaft oblong vertically, or but slightly oblong,

and somewhat flaring from'both sides, as shown in Fig. 4.. This allows sufficient vertical vibration of the shaft to compensate for the change in position of the parts before referred to. Similarly, and for the same purpose, the slot in the seed-slide through which the arm 0 passes is flared, as shown in Fig. 5. As the changein the position of the frame would necessarily tend to move the arm a in and out of the slot, and, unless provided for, either throw the arm out of engagement therewith or else vary the stroke, I make the bearing at each end of the slot quite deep, as shown in Fig. 5, so that thoughthe altitude of the slide should vary considerably the end on the arm will still be in engagement with the end of the slot, and the stroke will continue uniform. In practice I do this with a simple casting attached to the under side of the seed-slide, the construction of which is clearly indicated by the drawings.

In order to secure the quick stroke required for dropping corn, I make the arm 6 comparatively long,and provide the slide with a slot instead of a hole to receive the arm, as shown in Fig. 5.

Having thus described my invention, whatI clain as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In acorn-planter, the combination of the wheel A, wheel B, crankshaft CO, pitman D, rocker-shaftE, having arms 6 e, and seed-slide J, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination of the arm 6 and the slotted bearing therefor in the seed slide, said bearing being deep, as shown, whereby the parts are kept in engagementre gardless of the flexure of the frame, and having parallel terminal faces with which the end of the arm 9' is adapted to engage, and whereby the stroke of the seed-slide is kept uniform, substantially as specified.

3. In a cornplanter, the combination of the rock-shaft E, having arms a and e, the bearings aa, oblong vertically, as specified, and the seed-slide J, having a bell-mouthed seat for the arm 0, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER \VINSTON.

Witnesses:

Y FRANK G. CLARK, JAMES T. BAROUS. 

